DB Cargo UK and DB Cargo Polska have secured a contract to refurbish 60 BAA wagons for Tata Steel, supporting the company’s shift to cleaner steel production. The upgraded wagons will transport steel slab and coil, playing a key role in Tata Steel’s £1.25 billion transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) technology in the UK.
Wagon Refurbishment Underway
DB Cargo Polska is manufacturing new 40ft wagon frames at its facility in Rybnik, Poland. These frames are then shipped to the UK, where DB Cargo UK completes final assembly and testing at its Stoke maintenance facility. The first batch of wagons entered service in February 2025.
Supporting Tata Steel’s Green Shift
Roger Neary, Chief Sales Officer at DB Cargo UK, highlighted the importance of the project:
“This collaboration with DB Cargo Polska is crucial in meeting Tata Steel’s evolving rail freight needs. Being part of DB Cargo’s global network allows us to deliver innovative solutions.”
He added:
“Tata Steel is a major UK customer undergoing a transformation to boost sustainability. These new wagons will ensure a smooth transition to green steel production.”
Tata Steel’s £1.25bn Green Steel Push
Tata Steel plans to turn its Port Talbot (Wales) site into a green steelmaking hub using EAF technology. This shift will replace traditional blast furnaces, cutting carbon emissions.
Since closing its old furnaces, Tata Steel now imports steel slab and coil, which are processed at its UK facilities. The refurbished BAA wagons will transport materials from ports to Port Talbot. Later, they will carry feedstock for the new electric arc furnace.
A Critical Partnership
Kerys Twinberrow, Deployment Operations Manager at Tata Steel UK, said:
“This transition phase is vital for maintaining customer supply. We need trusted partners investing in UK manufacturing. This wagon project ensures both our success.”
The refurbishment underscores DB Cargo’s role in supporting sustainable steel production while keeping rail freight at the heart of industrial supply chains.
